by Staff Reporter | May 12, 2026 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
Arizona State University is encouraging freshmen to take courses on LGBTQ+ identity and witchcraft, which some are criticizing as “woke” content that undermines rather than contributes to academia.
ASU offers these courses through Discovery Seminars offered exclusively to freshmen students. Each seminar comes with one course credit.
The LGBTQ+ identity course, “LGBTQ+ Cinema and TV in Pop Culture,” is taught by Gabriel Acevedo, assistant professor of English and Puerto Rican native. While teaching at a Catholic school in Puerto Rico, Acevedo introduced LGBTQ+ poetry to his students.
The ASU course focuses on mobilizing progressive ideas of gender, sexuality, and LGBTQ+ identities through pop culture, namely visual media like TV and movies.
Concepts of gender and sexuality are presented as fluid and subject to change with time. The course also explores how intersectionality impacts LGBTQ+ ideology by discussing identities, race, abilities, and class.
“[This course will] determine the extent to which LGBTQ+ experiences and conversations can unlock unprecedented, crucial, and essential cultural movements for young adults and teens,” stated the course description.
Acevedo’s most recent publication featured on the National Council of Teachers of English for the English Journal, “Mediating Empathy: Teaching LGBTQIA+ Young Adult Literature with Literary and Critical Care,” stressed the importance of not just including LGBTQ+ content in courses but teaching affirmation of LGBTQ+ identities to students.
Acevedo’s approach proposed treating LGBTQ+ content with the same reverence as works more traditionally classified as classic literature.
“Without intentional pedagogical focus, teachers risk unintentionally reinforcing the very marginalization they aim to challenge. Therefore, LGBTQIA+ texts should be regarded as cultural artifacts that require careful interpretation, balancing celebration of queer humanity with strategies for harm reduction,” said Acevedo. “These experiences strengthen my belief that every young person — whether queer, questioning, or cisgender heterosexual — benefits from literature that affirms gender and sexuality diversity and fosters critical empathy. Similarly, teachers, whether queer-identifying or allies, need practical, research-based strategies to responsibly include such texts in their classrooms.”
The witchcraft course, “Witches in the Age of #WitchTok,” is taught by Susan Nguyen, a poet and the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing editor-in-chief of ASU’s international literary journal, Hayden’s Ferry Review.
“#WitchTok” refers to the viral online subculture with millions of posts and billions of views dedicated to witchcraft. Creators who engage in this online subculture practice witchcraft and many use their platforms to educate others practicing, to include spells, potions, and divination.
Users attest to communicating with deities such as Hekate, or creatures like fairies and forest nymphs.
Some users attest that witchcraft and Christianity, which commands against the practice of witchcraft, may be practiced simultaneously.
Top creators include Frankie Ann (@chaoticwitchaunt, over 1.6 million followers across multiple social media channels).
In her course, Nguyen reframes witches as more than fictional side characters and as real and “powerful” figures of controversy and esteem that are making a “comeback.”
Nguyen also promotes and encourages gossip “as a tool of power and protection, especially for women and marginalized communities.”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | May 11, 2026 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Grand Canyon University’s student ensemble choir Critical Mass will perform later this month at a national celebration in Washington, D.C. tied to America’s upcoming 250th anniversary.
The choir was invited by the White House to participate in “Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise and Thanksgiving,” scheduled for May 17 on the National Mall. The event is part of the broader America250 initiative commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
According to Grand Canyon University News, 14 members of Critical Mass remained on campus after the conclusion of the spring semester to continue rehearsals before departing for Washington on May 15.
“This is probably the biggest stage for Critical Mass,” Grand Canyon University Chair of Music Dr. Juan de Dios Hernandez told GCU News. “This event reflects who we are, a jubilee for prayer and praise.”
The May 17 event coincides with the 250th anniversary of the Continental Congress’ 1776 proclamation calling for a national day of fasting and prayer. Organizers described the gathering as an event intended to “reaffirm the country’s biblical foundation through moving messages, personal testimonies and worship music.”
“This really centers around what we do,” he added. “We do a lot of things, but the primary thing we do is share the Christian faith in whatever context we are.”
Critical Mass serves as one of the university’s primary musical ambassadors and performs more than 100 times during the academic year, according to the university. The ensemble recently performed during 13 commencement ceremonies held at Global Credit Union Arena.
University President Brian Mueller publicly recognized the group’s invitation during a recent commencement ceremony.
The Washington event is expected to feature addresses from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, and Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota, according to GCU News.
Other scheduled performers include Christian artist Chris Tomlin, singer Laura Osnes, Liberty University Praise, the Hillsdale College Choir, and the United States Navy Band.
The appearance marks another public role for GCU in events surrounding the nation’s upcoming semiquincentennial observances. Earlier this year, the university hosted the Arizona America250 Commission’s traveling museum exhibit commemorating the anniversary.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Staff Reporter | May 7, 2026 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
Peoria Unified School District (PUSD) retained a new governing board president following a charged special meeting on Tuesday night.
Former governing board president Heather Rooks lasted five months into her second elected term. Rooks was removed over what a majority on the board alleged was an undermining of their credibility and integrity involving a criminal investigation referral.
The board majority argued that Rooks defied the board’s authority in multiple ways, most recently by requesting the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office investigate Centennial High School officials for mandatory reporting violations in connection to the ongoing criminal cases involving former teachers Haley Beck and Angela Burlaka.
Beck and Burlaka face charges for the alleged sexual abuse of at least one student, though investigators have indicated in recent weeks that the victim pool may be bigger.
The board voted to delay a decision on launching a third-party, internal investigation due to other ongoing investigations by law enforcement. That would make the seventh investigation on the matter.
Also cited as a grievance by the board majority was Rooks’ media interviews in which she expressed criticisms of school administration over the handling of sexual abuse complaints. Rooks alleged the existence of “red flags” known to school administrators, something which has not been declared or proven by investigators.
The board voted 3-2 to replace Rooks with Jeff Tobey. Rooks and board member Janelle Bowles voted against Rooks’ ouster and spoke at length in Rooks’ defense.
Public comment ran for nearly an hour. Over 20 speakers showed up; slightly more speakers wanted to see Rooks replaced, while the remainder defended Rooks.
Rooks has maintained that she filed the internal investigation request in her capacity as a parent, not the board president. Rooks also claimed that her removal constituted retaliation over her speech.
“From a legal standpoint, when protected speech is followed by an adverse action and there is a causal connection between the two, it raises legitimate First Amendment concerns, including potential retaliation,” said Rooks. “If raising concerns about student safety and compliance leads to the removal from leadership, it risks creating a chilling effect, not just for me but for anyone who would otherwise speak up.”
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell’s investigatory efforts into high school officials were underway well prior to Rooks’ request. Peoria police have already stated publicly that they don’t plan to file any charges for mandatory reporting failures.
Ewing accused Rooks of undermining the board on its decision to wait for officials to conclude their own investigations into the matter. Ewing said Rooks was advancing theories and claims without evidence, something she said could risk harming prosecution efforts against the two teachers. This was a talking point that echoed throughout public comment advocating for Rooks’ ouster.
“She is advancing a narrative based on belief rather than evidence, despite her direct knowledge of interviews, investigative steps, and findings discussed in multiple executive sessions,” said Ewing.
Though critical, Tobey and Board Member Becky Proudfit had kinder words for Rooks. Proudfit said Rooks had PUSD students’ best interests at heart, but that intent didn’t justify her actions.
Tobey expressed support for Rooks’ freedom of speech generally but clarified that he was “disappointed” in her actions because they reflected her “opinions” and not the facts of the cases.
“I’ve learned the hard way that parallel investigations can interfere with one another,” said Tobey. “I don’t want to give any alleged pedophile any chance or upper hand in trial.”
Rooks accused the Arizona Education Association of coordinating the special meeting that resulted in her removal.
“Peoria School Board Members will vote tomorrow on a new President because the Arizona Teacher Union is calling for me to be removed as President,” said Rooks.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | May 3, 2026 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
The Orangewood Elementary School in Phoenix may soon be sued for alleged security failures by the family of a 10-year-old girl who was sexually assaulted by a criminal alien.
Abel Kai Gblah, a 25-year-old citizen of Liberia, allegedly impersonated a doctor and sexually assaulted the girl at Orangewood Elementary School. Gblah was a registered sex offender at the time of the offense.
In their legal notice, the girl’s parents claim Gblah entered the school through the front office and was encountered and briefly questioned by a staff member before being allowed to continue on to the school, where he eventually attacked their daughter.
Their notice also claimed that police weren’t notified and the school wasn’t placed on lockdown until nearly half an hour after Gblah fled campus.
Gblah has a criminal history dating back to at least 2019. The continued presence of Gblah in the U.S. appears to be a result of bipartisan immigration enforcement failures.
Gblah was arrested under both the Trump and Biden administrations, but not deported by either.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the immigration enforcement against Gblah last November, days after media reports of his arrest for sexual assault.
DHS claimed Gblah’s crimes were committed under the Biden administration only, but federal court records say otherwise.
The federal case against Gblah dates back to the summer of 2019, when he was arrested for smuggling illegal aliens into the country. Contrary to those court records, DHS claimed Gblah was arrested in 2022 for that offense.
According to Arizona District Court filings, Gblah worked with an accomplice to smuggle illegal aliens in June 2019. Gblah was given five years of probation for smuggling, and the fine was waived. He surrendered a Liberian passport upon his arrest.
Records further reveal that Gblah violated his probation almost immediately following the judgment against him. Gblah failed to report to his probation officer for six months, from September to December 2020, and then January and February 2021.
In July 2021, Gblah again violated his probation when was arrested for multiple felonies related to sexual abuse, exploitation, and conduct with a minor. That case was handled in the Maricopa County Superior Court. Gblah was convicted of molesting a 16-year-old girl with both intellectual and physical disabilities. Both the victim and her guardian reportedly objected to the plea deal given to Gblah under then-Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel.
Gblah remains listed on the state’s sex offender registry as a Level 2 sex offender.
The first iteration of the Trump administration failed to deport Gblah after his smuggling of illegal aliens. The Biden administration failed to deport Gblah after his sexual crimes against a minor.
Last fall, Gblah served two months in jail for violations of his lifetime probation related to his sex-based crimes per records obtained by ABC15. Violations included missing sex offender treatment dozens of times and an arrest in Florida. Several days after his release late last fall, Gblah committed the sexual assault at the Phoenix area elementary school.
Gblah came into the United States in 2011 under President Barack Obama. He received a green card, according to DHS.
AZ Free News found social media pages connected to Gblah. At one point a man claiming to be Gblah’s father, Robert Muipoe, asked an individual who appeared to be Gblah’s sponsor — Mitchell Gblah — when he could communicate with Gblah.
“Mitchell why I can’t see talk [sic] with my son Abel one day?” asked Muipoe in a comment on a Facebook post made by Mitchell Gblah in January 2017.
Mitchell Gblah died in 2022 while making one of his frequent visits back to his home country of Liberia, where Muipoe and Gblah were also from.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | May 3, 2026 | Education, News
By Ethan Faverino |
The Goldwater Institute has called on Arizona’s largest school district to immediately repeal a policy that prohibits “personal attacks” on school board members, staff, students, or members of the public during public comment periods, arguing the rule unconstitutionally silences criticism while allowing praise.
In a formal letter sent to Mesa Public Schools Governing Board President Courtney Davis, the Goldwater Institute contends the policy constitutes blatant viewpoint discrimination in violation of the First Amendment and the Arizona Constitution.
The Mesa Public Schools Governing Board adopted this policy in July 2024, banning any “personal attacks” during the public comment portion of board meetings. According to the Goldwater Institute, the rule effectively permits speakers to praise or thank board members, administrators, and teachers by name, but forbids any negative, critical, or challenging comments directed at the same individual—no matter how factual or civil the critique may be.
“This prohibition punishes a specific viewpoint insofar as it prohibits ‘attacks,’” the letter states. “It is not, then, the speaking about Board members, staff, students, or members of the public in general that the Governing Board is preventing, but only speech about those groups from a certain viewpoint. That is unconstitutional.”
Adam Shelton, an attorney for the Goldwater Institute, who wrote the letter, told The Center Square, “The Supreme Court has consistently held that viewpoint discrimination is almost always unconstitutional.”
The Goldwater Institute became involved after concerned Mesa parents contacted the organization, requesting a review of the policy. Shelton noted that the board reads the restriction aloud before every public comment session.
“The policy has chilled the speech of some of the parents,” Shelton added. “They’re afraid to speak out and bring problems before the school board. These parents are concerned about being banned or punished for making negative comments about school board officials.”
Public comment periods at school board meetings serve as a vital democratic function, allowing parents and community members to bring forward issues, including complaints about teachers, policies, or administrative decisions. The Goldwater Institute argues that Mesa’s policy undermines this purpose by making it nearly impossible to discuss real problems without naming those responsible.
Federal courts have repeatedly struck down similar policies. In Ison v. Madison Local School District Board of Education, the Sixth Circuit invalidated a rule banning “antagonistic” or “abusive” speech personally directed at board members as impermissible viewpoint discrimination. More recently, in Moms for Liberty – Brevard County, FL v. Brevard Public Schools, the Eleventh Circuit ruled against a prohibition on “abusive” comments, noting that such policies effectively require “happy-talk”—allowing positive comments while suppressing negative or challenging ones.
The Eleventh Circuit emphasized that restricting “personally directed” speech obstructs the core purpose of school board meetings: educating officials and the community about legitimate concerns. The court observed that a parent complaining about a math teacher’s instructional methods would struggle to explain the issue without referencing the teacher.
The Goldwater Institute warned that maintaining the policy exposes the district to potentially costly litigation. Following its victory in the Brevard case, Moms for Liberty secured a settlement requiring the Florida school district to pay nearly $600,000 in attorney fees, costs, and expenses.
In addition to federal constitutional concerns, the letter highlights that the policy likely violates Article II, Section 6 of the Arizona Constitution, which provides even broader protections for free speech than the First Amendment.
The Goldwater Institute has requested that the Mesa Public Schools Governing Board promptly amend its policy by removing the prohibition on “personal attacks.” The organization expressed willingness to work cooperatively with the board to bring the rules into compliance with constitutional standards and noted that all options remain under consideration if the policy is not revised.
No response has been received from the Board President, Courtney Davis, or the governing board as of the time of publication.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | May 1, 2026 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
Arizona State University (ASU) is using an AI tool, ASU Atomic, to create educational modules using content ripped from professors’ work.
Professors say they were not made aware of their lectures being used in this way; they also characterized the outcome as inaccurate “AI slop” as first reported by 404 Media.
“AI slop” refers generally to poor, undesired generative content. In some circles, “slop” may refer to not just some but all generative content under the perception that generative AI tools rely on stolen original works.
ASU Atomic promises to create an unlimited amount of custom learning modules for subscribers by taking long lectures and condensing them into smaller clips based on prompts. These synthetic clips “grounded in trusted ASU courses” fit within condensed courses that amount to less than 10 hours.
The tool began as a pilot launch earlier this month within an initiative called “Project Atomizer.”
Subscriptions for ASU Atomic cost $5 a month. At present, course content produced by the tool doesn’t translate to ASU academic credits, nor badges or credentials.
Not much exists publicly on Project Atomizer. The initiative was mentioned briefly in a February presentation by ASU President Michael Crow, part of a larger proposal to make AI the focus of the future: “current realities require current solutions,” according to the presentation.
Crow said in an interview last week with the Greater Phoenix Chamber that ASU has 50 AI tools, three of which are augmentative AI tools for students. Crow said he uses AI for “everything” in his daily life.
“[W]hen I’m driving to work, I use the Gemini tool. Basically, I’ll pick a subject that I don’t know enough about and I’ll get myself educated in like 22 minutes or 25 minutes,” said Crow. “I use it for basically quick analysis of really complicated things that I don’t have enough facts [for].”
Crow also revealed that he has used AI to write 20 white papers since November. He’s also used AI to create multiple architectural proposals: one for a site in Hawaii near the village of Javi, another for an addition to the West Valley campus in Phoenix.
ASU literature professor Chris Hanlon was one of the first to raise awareness of ASU Atomic. Hanlon told 404 Media that no professors he’d spoken with had given their permission for this generative content.
“None of the ASU faculty whose course materials were harvested for the module I generated were aware that their image, lectures, lessons, or other teaching materials are being used,” posted Hanlon on Bluesky.
Hanlon said the course materials were pulled from Canvas, a course management system. Hanlon criticized the AI-generated clips as error-laden, jumbled, lacking context, and confused.
“Concerning the course itself, there’s no throughline I can see; none of the videos really speak to one another — it’s a mishmash, though the individual lessons that comprise it probably make a lot more sense in their original context,” said Hanlon.
The ASU Atomic website says the tool relies on content pulled from the ASU Online library.
“If ASU teaches it, Atom — your AI learning partner — can build a hyper-personalized learning module around it,” stated the Atomic.
Since 404 Media broke their investigative report, ASU closed off new signups. Instead, interested users or curious onlookers will have to join a waitlist.
Faculty asked Crow about the AI tool during a recent faculty Q&A following that initial report, as later revealed by Inside Higher Ed. According to Crow, the tool remains an early-stage experimental project without substantial promotion.
ASU Atom told Inside Higher Ed that its model was built on Anthropic’s Claude. ASU has declined to speak on the training and development of the tool.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
